Business Details
Psychotherapy & Collaborative Divorce Services in Chicago
I am a licensed clinical social worker and psychotherapist with extensive experience in family therapy, collaborative divorce, and child-focused mediation. My practice emphasizes helping families navigate transitions through evidence-based approaches that integrate psychodynamic, cognitive, and behavioral methodologies. I specialize in working with children, adolescents, and adults facing challenges related to divorce, identity issues, anxiety, and life transitions.My background includes staff positions at Michael Reese Hospital and the University of Chicago's child psychiatry departments, which inform my expertise in child-centered parenting plans and co-parenting counseling. I prioritize creating dynamic therapeutic partnerships to foster self-awareness and positive change while maintaining a commitment to ethical standards and client-centered care.
Services
Collaborative Divorce
Child/Adolescent Therapy
Co-Parenting Counseling
Child Focused Mediation
Individual Adult Therapy
Highlights and features
- We have over 20 years of experience in family therapy and collaborative divorce practices
- Our practice integrates psychodynamic, cognitive, and behavioral approaches for comprehensive care
- We specialize in child-centered parenting plans and co-parenting counseling
- Our team includes a licensed clinical social worker with hospital and university affiliations
- We provide tailored solutions for families experiencing complex transitions and emotional challenges
Services
Collaborative Divorce
Our collaborative divorce process utilizes trained specialists to help families avoid court battles while creating child-centered parenting plans. We focus on preserving co-parenting relationships and minimizing emotional trauma for children. This approach involves direct consultation with children to ensure their needs shape custody arrangements.
Child/Adolescent Therapy
We provide therapy for children and teens facing identity issues, anxiety, and behavioral challenges. Our family systems approach often includes parent participation and coordination with schools and medical professionals. Specialized services address post-divorce adjustment and parent-child relationship restoration.
Co-Parenting Counseling
Our co-parenting counseling helps separated parents develop effective communication strategies and decision-making frameworks. We address emotional challenges during relationship transitions while maintaining focus on children's long-term well-being through structured mediation sessions.
Child Focused Mediation
This specialized mediation process incorporates children's perspectives directly into custody negotiations. We facilitate parent-child therapy sessions to address relationship breakdowns while providing structured guidance for creating sustainable parenting agreements.
Individual Adult Therapy
We offer therapy for adults navigating life transitions including divorce, career changes, and identity exploration. Our approach combines psychodynamic insights with practical strategies to address anxiety, depression, and relationship challenges while promoting personal growth.
People
Palen John M PHD
Psychotherapist & LCSW
Dr. Palen is a licensed clinical social worker with decades of experience in family therapy and collaborative divorce practices. He previously served at Michael Reese Hospital and the University of Chicago's child psychiatry departments, bringing specialized expertise in child-centered mediation and co-parenting solutions.
Questions
What types of therapy services do you offer?
We offer collaborative divorce services, child/adolescent therapy, co-parenting counseling, child-focused mediation, and individual adult therapy for mental health challenges.
Do you accept insurance?
We do not participate in insurance panels, but we can provide statements for PPO policy reimbursement. Divorce-related services are not covered by insurance.
How do you approach child-focused mediation?
We help parents create customized parenting plans while incorporating children's perspectives through direct consultation with our Child Specialist.
What areas do you serve?
Our practice serves clients in Chicago and surrounding suburbs including Skokie, Illinois.
What makes your collaborative divorce approach unique?
We combine specialized training as Child Specialist and Divorce Coach to create solutions that protect children and preserve co-parenting relationships.
